San Diego, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/14/2017 -- The Whistleblower Institute announces that Lincare reached a $20 million settlement in a whistleblower lawsuit filed by former employees over fraudulently billing the U.S. government for oxygen and respiratory care equipment.

Those who have a similar case or experienced a similar situation or any other wrongdoing within a corporation have certain options and should contact the Whistleblower Institute at mail@whistleblowerinstitute.com or call: 619-452–1218. There are no costs or obligations to you.

A settlement has been reached to resolve False Claims Act allegations against Lincare.

The allegations arose from a lawsuit that claimed Linde AG's Lincare unit fraudulently billed the U.S. government for oxygen and respiratory care equipment.

According to the government, Lincare allegedly billed government health programs, including Medicare, since 2003 for oxygen equipment and tanks even when the customers did not use or require them, fabricated customer oxygen orders and improperly waived customer co-payments and deductibles.

Furthermore, allegedly the company paid kickbacks to physicians and their families for patient referrals and supplying them with oxygen and supplies for free.

Reportedly, the case was filed by former employees, which began as two separate lawsuits, one filed in 2009 by two former Lincare employees, SallyJo Robins and Kathleen Dunlap, and another in 2010 by Germano Lima and Roberto Rabassa.

As part of the settlement, the US government will receive $9 million and the former employees will receive $11 million.

Based in Clearwater, Florida, Lincare is a provider of oxygen and other respiratory therapy services to patients in the home.

The Whistleblower Institute is an information portal for current or former employees and other people having insight information about wrongdoing and other illegal activities by individuals either individually or within corporations, through company culture and or within international affairs. Whistleblowers should keep in mind that under the Dodd-Frank Act any person who provides the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") with original information that leads to a successful enforcement action with over $1 million recovered must be awarded between 10%-30% of the total amount recovered. In order to determine the total amount of the reward there are numerous factors that need to be considered. Whistleblower actions are complex and our goal is to guide any whistleblower every step of the way. The Whistleblower Institute is dedicated to partnering with any individual who have information about fraud and we work with many of the best law firms worldwide.

Those who have a similar case or experienced a similar situation or any other wrongdoing within a corporation have certain options and should contact the Whistleblower Institute.

Contact:
Whistleblower Institute
2534 State Street - Suite 406
San Diego, CA 92101, USA
Phone: +1 (619) 452–1218
Facsimile: +1 (619) 785 – 3185
Email: mail@whistleblowerinstitute.com

The material was prepared by the Whistleblower Institute for informational purposes only and is not legal or financial advice. The information is provided only as general information which may or may not reflect the most currently available public information, is not provided as a basis for any established or existing relationship, and is not intended to constitute legal or financial advice, or to substitute for obtaining such advice from an attorney or other advisor licensed in your state.